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Couple Dies From Gunshot Wounds To Head

(SPRINGVILLE) - Lawrence County Coroner John Sherrill says 37-year-old Judith “Jude” Gater and her husband 36-year-old Aaron Gater died from single gunshot wounds to the head.

The gunshots came from the same gun; a .45-caliber handgun that was found at their trailer on Poplar Ridge Road in Springville.

Police are not saying who pulled the trigger until their investigation is complete. An autopsy was performed Friday at Indiana University Health Bedford Hospital.

Sherrill says the couple had been dead for a couple of days. Friends say Jude was scheduled to work at Bandanna's Tuesday night and didn't show up and didn't call in which was unlike her.

The couple was found in their trailer Thursday, when Jude's daughter went to check on her mother. Police had been to the home earlier in the day, but could not get anyone to answer the door after a family member had requested a welfare check on the couple.

Police and family say the couple had a history of domestic problems. According to court records Aaron was arrested and charged with domestic battery in the presence of someone younger than 16, in January of 2011. He was found guilty of throwing Jude outside, grabbing and hitting her head on a door frame and chocking her and dragging her through the house.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced by Lawrence County Superior Court I Judge Michael Robbins to a year in jail with all the time suspended and put on supervised probation. In August 2011, he was arrested for invasion of privacy.

Elizabeth Voris, a friend of Jude's and who worked with her says after that incident, Jude quit her job at Bandana's and moved out of state to live with family members. Jude came back before Thanksgiving for a visit and decided to stay and return to work at the northside bar. She and Aaron reconciled. Voris says while the couple had some rocky times, she cared for her husband.

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